Order-wire key.



vI. R. MOBERTY. ORDER WIRE KEY. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1908*.

985,191. Patent-,ea Feb.28,f1911.

FRANK n. MCBRTY,

OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'lO WESTERN ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OE ILLINOIS.

ORDER-WIRE KEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led September 5, 1908.

Fatented Feb. 28, 1911.. Serial No. 451,870.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that 1, FRANK R. MCBERTY, citizen of the United States,residing at New Rochelle, in the county of Westchester and State of NewYork, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Order-WireKeys, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to keys for use in telephone switch-boards, and itsobject is to provide a key or strip of keys of compact form and simplestructure.

My invent-ion consists of a plurality of parallel rows of contactsprings provided with coperating keys adapted when manipulated to pressthe springs of the diiferent rows into contact with each other.

My invention is capable of being put to various uses, and isparticularly adapted for controlling the connections of order-wirelines, and hence I will describe such embodiment thereof.

Order-wire keys in common use are operated in the same manner as pushbuttons, the plungers when depressed serving to press the two contactsprings with which the terminals of the order-wire line are connectedinto contact with the two springs forming the terminals of the operatorstelephone set. Such keys are usually mounted in strips of ten, crosswiseon the left hand portion of the key shelf of the multiple board. Thepush buttons or heads of the keys are thus arranged in a close row, andfor sake of compactness are made small in size. There is thus aliability of the operator depressing the wrong button or of depressingtwo buttons simultaneously. My invention is designed to overcome thesediiiiculties without sacrificing compactness of structure.

My invention, as embodied in a strip of order-wire keys, consists of aframework provided with a plurality of flat springs forming terminals ofthe operators telephone set, a plurality of opposed flat springs formingterminals for the order-wire lines, one pair for each order-wirecircuit, and a separate pivoted key or lever corresponding to eachorder-wire circuit, adapted when operated to close the correspondingcontact springs, and thus to connect the operators set in the order-wirecircuit.

The several detailed features of my invention may be more readilyunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in Which- Figure 1is a side view, wit-h parts broken away, of a strip of order-wire keysembodying. my invention; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference numerals similar parts wherever shown.

The framework preferably consists at the rear of two clamping strips 1,1, held together by clamping screws 2, and at the front of two parallelstrips 8, 4, spaced apart by the connecting end strips 5, 5, of theframework. Said strips may be made of metal or other suitable material.

The contact springs, suitably insulated from each other, are held inassembled position by the clamping strips 1, the rear end 4of saidsprings being of the usual form for receiving the wires of the circuitto which they are connected, and the inner ends being provided with theusual contact points.

The terminals of the operators telephone set consists of a row ofcontact springs clamped between strips 8, 9, of insulating materials.The springs are arranged in pairs of alternate springs 6 and 7,connected to opposite terminals of the operators telephone set. Clampedbetween the insulating sheets 9 and 1() is a row of contact springs 11,each forming one terminal of an independent order-wire line, the otherterminal of which consists of a similar contact spring 12. The springs12 are likewise arranged in a row and are clamped between the insulatingstrips 10 and 13. The terminals of each order-wire line, it will thus beseen, consist of a pair of adjacent contact springs 11, 12.

Each pair of contact springs 11, 12, rests upon the inner end of apivoted key 14, there being one key for each pair of springs 11, 12. Thekeys 14 are preferably in the form of -angular levers pivoted at thebends or vertices upon a common rod or pivot pin 15. The rod 15 has itsends mounted in the strips 5. The free ends of the keys 14 arepreferably tapered to provide a space between the ends of the keys, asshown in Fig. 1, in order that the finger used to depress one key maynot overlap and thereby depress an adjacent key at the same time. Thekeys 14 are made of hard rubber or other suitable indesignate 1 'lao Y60 f springs mounted edge to edge in 'said frame.,

Y sulating materialiiEachkey 14 is provided.

Y ber'is reducedv to eleven.

vwitha shoulder 16 adapted to contact with the edge olith'evstrips andtlius to limit the extent (it-depression of the key. The inner endsV ofthe keys are normally pressed by the springs 11, 12, into rcontact withthe inner face of the strip L1, as shown in Fig. 2.

V*As shown` iii Fig. VV1, each of the con-- tact springs Y6, 7 exceptthe twosprings at the ends, are provided with heads 17 which` overlap.springs`11, 12, of dilervent order-V j'wire lines. YEach Vot the springs6 and 7 thus '-'p'rovidedwith heads 17 is adapted to form a contact withaspring fortwo dilierent or- ',der-w'ire lines, thus reducing;approximately hy onehalt, thefnumber- Aof the 4terminal i springs`forthe.foperator`fs set necessary t serve a givennumber Fotorder-wil`elines. Thus, in a strip ofY ten keys, instead of twenty contact" springs6, 7, commonly Aused for terminals of the operators set, the numn Eachof the springs 6, 7 has an fupturned lug 18 which ylies in a kerf ornotch formed in the-strip of insulatingmaterial 8f Likewise the springs411V and 12Ahave lugs 19 and 20,which"lie in notches formed in the insu-.'lating sheets-9 and 13, respectively. These` Y lugs '18', 19 and v20thus 'serve to properly positionv the springs and to-prevent theirdisplacement., 'f y f i I It wil thus appear that the strips ofkeysfembodying my invention havef the flat conv tact `springs arranged Vwiththeir flat surfaces B5V Vin parallel rows, thus reducing the thicknessof the strips.y rllie free ends of' the contact l Y springskare sodisposed with reference to Y each other that by manipulating a` keythetwo terminals of the vcorresponding order# wire line are pressed intoengagement with contactsprings forming terminals of the opposite sidesof the operators set, and the number of springs requiredA asterminalsfor Y pressed.

bination with the frame, of a -row ot' contact springs mountededge'toedge in said frame, additional rows of contact springs alsomountedin said frame, and a key, mounted in'said frame andadaptedtocause the engagement of springs of said 'first 4mentioned row'with aspring of each of said additional rows. f ik Y 2. In an'order wire keystructure, the combination with the frame, ot a row ot contact twoadditional rows of contact springs alsoV mounted in saidiframe inparallel relation to said irst named row of springs,and a plurality ofkeys ,mounted in the framev and each the wrong key being de-l adapteditocauseitlie engagement of springs of said iirst named row with a springof each of said additional rows. A 3. In an order wire key structure,the combination with a frame, of a row of contact springs mounted edgeto edge in said frame,

two additional rows of contact springs also mounted in said traine, anda key,niounted in said4 frame, ,cooperating with correspond- "ingsprings in each of said additional rows adapted to force saidfspringsintocontact with springswot said vfirst named row.

4t. In an order wire key structure, the conibination with aoframe, of arowofwcontact springs mounted edge to edge in vsaid frame, twoadditional rows of Contact springs also mounted in said frame, inparallel relation to said first mentioned row of springs, and aplurality of keys mounted in the frame and each adaptedvto press a'spring from each of said last named` rowsrinto contact with adjacentsprings ot said `first named row.

5. I n an order wire key structure, the combination withtlie frame, of arow ofY contact springs mounted edge toedge in the traine, lofadditional rows of contact springs also mounted in said trame inparallel relation to said first jnamed row, said additional rows beingsuperposed one upon the other and a plurality of keyscoperating eachwith one of the corresponding contact springs iii each lof saidadditional rows adapted to orcesaid springs into contact with springs ofsaid lirst named row.

` 6. A strip of contact-,closing keys comprising frame, a row of contactnsprings mounted edge to edge in said frame, two additional rows ofcontact springs mounted in said frame in parallel relation to saidfirstnained row of springs, and a plurality ot keys mounted in the framein proximity to the free en dsof said contact springs, each key beingarranged, when manipulated, to press a spring from each of said lastnamed rowsinto engagement each with one of a pair of adjacent springs ofsaid ist named row. v

7. In an order wire key structure, a Vrow of Vcontact springsmountededge to edge in a rectangular frame longitudinally thereof, theyfree ends of said springs having extensions approximately at rightangles to the main body of the spring, a contact mounted on each of saidextensions, veach alternate spring being adapted to be joined to oneside of an operators telephone circuit and the remaining springs to theother side, of two rows of additional contact springs separated byinsulation, one row being superposed' upon the other, the adjacentsprings of alternate rows being adapted to'form the terminals of anindependent order wire circuit, and a 'key adapted to press 'the springsforming the terminals of 'an order'wire circuit into engagement with twoo'tsaid springs forni- Cfr ing the terminals of the operators telephoneset.

S. In an order wire key structure, the combination with a frame, of aplurality of pairs of contact springs mounted in said frame, additionalsprings less in number than said irst named springs mounted in a row inclose relation to said first named row, and a plurality of keys mountedin said frame and having operating` sections on one side of both rows ofsprings adapted upon the rocking of said keys to cause the engagement ofsaid additional contact springs with said iirst named springs.

9. ln an order wire key structure, the combination with a fra1ne,o:t tworows of contact springs, one superposed upon t-he other in staggeredrelation and separated by insulation, the adjacent springs one in eachof said rows, forming a pair of terminals for an order wire circuit, anadditional row of fiat contact springs, less in number than said firstnamed springs, mounted in said frame in parallel relation to said iirstnamed rows, each spring of said additional row overlapping a spring intwo adjacent pairs of said pairs of springs, each alternate spring ofsaid lastnamed row being connected with opposite sides of an operatorstelephone set, and a plurality of keys mounted in said frame and adaptedto be actuated to cause the engagement of adjacent springs of saidadditional row with a pair ot' springs orming the terminals of an orderwire circuit.

l0. In an order wire key struct-ure, the combination with the frame, ofa plurality of pairs of flat contact springs mounted in said fram-e,additional contact springs less in number than said iirst named springs,and keys, one for each of said pairs of springs, adapted to press eachmember of a pair of contact springs into contact with a separate one ofsaid additional springs.

ll. ln an order wire key structure, the combination with the frame, of aplurality of pairs orn flat contact springs mounted in said frame,additional contact springs less in number than said first mentionedsprings, and a key adapted to engage with each of said pairs of springsand press said springs into contact each with adjacent springs of saidadditional springs.

12. In an order wire key structure, the combination with the traine, ofa plurality of pairs oitl iiat contact springs mounted in said frame,additional cont-act springs less in number than said iirst mentionedsprings, and a plurality of keys each adapted to engage with one of saidpairs ot springs, the operation of the several keys being adapted topress corresponding members of said pairs of springs into contact withadjacent springs of said additional springs.

13. ln a strip ot Contact closing keys, the combination with arectangular iframe, of a plurality of pairs of fiat contact springsclamped in said frame longitudinally thereof, a. plurality of keys, onefor each pair of said springs, and an additional row of contact springsclamped in said frame, the inner springs of said row each overlapping aspring in each ot two adjacent pairs of said first named pairs ofsprings.

14. In an order wire key structure, the combination with a rectangularframe, or" two'rows of fiat contact springs clamped in said frame onerow being superposed upon the other, each spring of one row forming oneterminal and each spring of the other row forming the opposite terminalof inde-i pendent order wire circuits, a row of fiat contactsprings alsoclamped in said frame adj acent said rst named rows of springs, andparallel thereto, each overlapping a spring in two adjacent pairs ofsaid first named springs, each alternate spring of said last named rowbeing connected to opposite sides of an operators tel-ephone circuit,and a plurality of keys adapted to press said pairs of order wiresprings into engagement with the springs forming terminals of theoperators circuit.

In witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name this iirst day ofSeptember A.. D., 1908.

FRANK R. MOBERTY.

Witnesses:

D. C. TANNER, A. H. MOORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

